KENORA — The provincial government has announced a second Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hub for Northwestern Ontario.
In addition to the one already approved for Thunder Bay, a hub will be established in Kenora to support individuals dealing with addiction and mental health issues.
The facility will be overseen by the Kenora Chiefs Advisory.
It was one of 18 additional HART hubs announced by the government on Monday, bringing the total approved to date to 27.
Other hubs approved for Northern Ontario will be located in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.
The government has said the facilities will provide timely and comprehensive access to mental health support, addictions care, primary care, supportive housing and employment services.
Last year the province ordered the closure of safe consumption sites in Thunder Bay and eight other locations on the grounds they were located too close to schools or licensed child-care centres.
HART hubs will not provide supervised drug consumption or needle exchange programs.
Advocates for harm reduction have sharply criticized the move to the abstinence-based treatment model, arguing it will result in more overdoses and will move drug use into public spaces.
Newswatch has reached out to the Kenora Chiefs Advisory for comment.
